CUE-BALL CONTROL can be an issue for just about every person who's looking to improve from a beginner to an intermediate player. This month I'd like to address speed control, which is just one aspect of successfully positioning your cue ball for the next shot.

As I've said before, players who lack confidence — either in a specific situations or in their strokes in general — tend to overcompensate by using additional power on a given shot. With that in mind, let's think about a situation where a player must use a soft stroke to play position. When you need a light touch, some players have problems developing a feel for the cue ball.

Focusing on the physical execution of the stroke, most players who use too much power for position are not used to following through in the proper fashion. It's highly likely that they are decelerating their cues mid-stroke to soften the hit on the cue ball, which can result in a punchy delivery of the cue. It's imperative that you build your stroke in a way that allows for the proper follow-through on every shot, no matter the speed. If you can rely on your follow-through, you'll feel like you're hitting the ball softer while still getting the same amount of speed, as opposed to a hard jab stroke with limited follow-through.

As far as the proper distance your cue should travel after hitting the cue ball, there's no standard answer. The stroke ends when the cue comes to a natural stop on it's own. When you're using plenty of power, the cue will travel a substantial distance after impact. But when you must lightly stroke a shot, bring the cue back a few inches and then follow through just two or three inches.

To drill this, set up a straight-in shot and hit it with pocket speed, meaning the object ball has just enough momentum to make it into the pocket. Keep executing this shot until you hit it as softly as possible, all the while noting how far forward your cue moves with each attempt. You'll be amazed at how little power is often necessary to sink the ball, which will allow you to then focus on the position of the cue ball.

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